Firefighter might lose his job

Criminal charges result in discipline, unpaid leave.

Criminal charges result in discipline, unpaid leave.

March 29, 2006|SUE LOWE Tribune Staff Writer

MISHAWAKA -- A firefighter who has been charged with aiding in the commission of sexual misconduct with a minor faces the possible loss of his job. Triphon Lema III has until April 4 to request a hearing before the Mishawaka Board of Public Works & Safety. That hearing will be at 11 a.m. April 25 if he requests it. Board members accepted five internal charges of violating city and/or state rules from Fire Chief Dale Freeman. Lema, 48, is accused of allowing a 20-year-old man to move into his Mishawaka home and engage in sex with a 15-year-old girl between June 5 and July 5. He was arrested at a fire station March 20 and has been released on bond. He is due back in court with his lawyer April 18. Freeman said Lema was placed on probation on May 31 for being absent from his job without leave. According to the internal charges Freeman filed against him, Lema agreed "to be terminated" if he was absent without leave again or committed another major violation of city rules before March 22. He didn't make it before he was arrested. Lema faces an internal charge of being absent without proper leave when he was arrested, with immoral conduct, conduct unbecoming an officer, violating his agreement and violating rules. The immoral conduct charge quotes court documents as saying Lema admitted to allowing felonies in his home. Putting himself in jeopardy of being arrested while on duty in front of his co-workers and any members of the public passing by the fire station is listed as conduct unbecoming an officer in city documents. Lema is on unpaid administrative leave.Staff writer Sue Lowe: slowe@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6557